Signaling apparatus



' Dec. 24, i935.

v. E. CARBON/ARA 2,025,269

SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l I jj; I

"ll l a INVENTOR V/'r/or 5 a'rbomm Dec. 24, 1935.

v. E. CARBONARA 2,025,269

SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN I/ EN TOR.Mcm@ i (arbo/70m A TTORNE Y Dec. 24, 1935. V. E. CARBONARA 2,025,269

S IGNALI NG APPARATUS Filed sept. 2S, 1952 v s sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR.Vzctor f. afn/zam.

A TTORNEY Patented Uec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,025,269sminuire APPARATUS Application September 28, 1932, Serial No. 635,254

9 Claims.

The present invention relatesto signaling devices adapted to transmitand receive signals to and from a remote station, and more particularlyto devices of the typegenerally known as ships n telegraphs.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novelstructure whereby a double signaling unit of the above referred to typeoperable from either end thereof is rendered possible.

l Another object is to provide a novel construction of a device of theforegoing character capable of controlling the motion of a similarremotely disposed but related device, and at the same time capable ofresponding to movements imparted to l the same or another remotelydisposed but related device.

Devices of the class described have heretofore embodied rotatableelements mounted in a frame or casing through which the shaft of suchrotatable element extends to provide means for connecting a suitablepointer or operating handle thereto, in conjunction with a dial havinginscribed thereon suitable reference characters or indicia to guide theoperator and indicate the signals to be transmitted and/or received.Where the location of such devices has permitted, the operating handlehas been mechanically connected to the rotatable member at the rear ofthe casing of the device, as indicated, for example,

in Fig. 2 of the patent to Frank W. Wood No. 1,562,483 or in Fig. 3 ofthe patent to Lloyd E'. ONeal and Samuel N. Mead, Jr. No. 1,693,663,

` thereby avoiding the necessity of puncturing the front cover-plate ofthe device, which c over-plate is usually of glass so that the indiciaon the dial may be visible therethrough. In many instances, however, thelocations in which such devices are used, particularly in engine roomsof ships, render the rear of the signaling unit inaccessible forattachment of the operating means and in such instances it has beennecessary to puncture the cover-glass or cover-plate with a resultingweakening of such member thereby subjecting is to the risk of breakage.

The present invention eliminates the foregoing diiculties and permitsthe combining, in a novel manner, of two signaling units by providing anovel structure whereby the operating handle may be attached at theforward portion of the unit in all cases regardless of positions orlocations of the support to which the unit is attached when a singleunit is employed, and without causing n interference between theoperating handles when two such units are combined, and whereby thenecessity of any part of the unit having to pass through the cover-glassor plate-is eliminated.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a novel construction in asignal transmitting and/or receiving unit of the class described inwhich a 5 portion of the casing, including the front coverplate, isrotatable about a stationary dial plate on which orders to betransmitted as well as those to be received are indicated by therotation of an index member secured to or formed integral with suchouter casing and hence rotatable about such dial plate, and by a secondindex member or pointer, respectively, the latter being operated by thereceiving element of the signaling unit.

Still another object is to provide a novel struc- 15 ture in a signalingunit of the foregoing type whereby a double-faced instrument may beformed by combining two single units into a unitary constructionembodying two pairs of relatively rotatable transmitters and receiversen- 20 closed in the same casing and permitting relative rotationtherebetween throughout 360 and in which the operating handles of theunits are in planes parallel to the dial plates so that their relativeangular positions in those planes afford, 25 at a glance, a roughindication of the signal transmitted thereby.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a unitarystructure, a light, compact and novel arrangement of a plurality ofrelatively 30 rotatable transmitters and receivers for the purposesdescribed.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention hereindisclosed will become more fully apparent from a. consideration of the 3detailed description which follows when read with reference to theaccompanying drawings wherein two embodiments of the invention areillustrated. It is to be expressly understood, however, that thedrawings are for `the purpose 40 of illustration only and are not to beconstrued as a definition of the limits of the invention, referencebeing had for this purpose to the appended claims. v

In the drawings wherein like reference char- 45 acters refer to likeparts in the related views,

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section through a casing in which aresupported two similar devices each.` of which embodies the presentinvention, one

the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1 to the sending andreceiving of signals to and from a remote station; and

Fig. 4 is another electrical circuit diagram showing the connections oftwo units of the type shown in Fig. 2.

In the two embodiments herein illustrated and described in detail, theinvention is shown in Fig. 1 applied to a pair of signaling units of thetype disclosed in the copending application, Serial No. 530,099 ledApril 14, 1931, for Dynamo electric machines, and in which each unit isprovided with two or more rotatable armatures one of which functions asa generator capable of actuating a system of self-synchronous motors totransmit signals to each of such motors and the other armature of eachunit functioning as a self-synchronous motor adapted to respond to themovement of a signal-transmitting generator electrically connectedthereto; while in Fig. 2 the invention is shown applied to a pair ofsignaling units of the type in which each unit is provided with astationary indicating unit having a movable pointer and with tworelatively rotatable members, the operation of which is adapted to varythe resistance of an electrical circuit to produce an indication at aremote point, the indicating unit in turn being adapted to be operatedby a similar transmitting unit at the remote point; but it is to beunderstood that the invention is equally adaptable to any other knowntype of signaling unit, whether mechanical, electrical orelectromechanical, capable of transmitting and receiving signals to andfrom a remote station.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to the embodimentshown in Fig. 1, the invention is shown applied to a signaling unit ofthe type disclosed in the above referred to application, Serial No.530,099 wherein are provided two armatures having ,a common field, saidarmatures and eld .being individually relatively rotatable with respectto eachother and adapted to be connected to the armatures and field of asignaling unit located at a remote point. The fields of the two unitsare arranged to be energized so that a xed phase relation is establishedamong the iiuxes of the armatures and field of each unit so that upondisturbance of the ux relation among the armatures and fields of oneunit, by relative rotation therebetween, a disturbance is produced inthe iiux relation among the corresponding armatures and eld of the otherunit, thereby causing relative rotation among the armatures and eld ofthe latter unit, and vice versa. In accordance with the presentinvention, however, two units are provided at both the trans- 'mittingand receiving ends of the system, said units being mounted back to backto constitute a unitary double-faced signaling device wherebyindications may be observed from either side of said device. Since theunits are of similar construction the description of the one shown insection in Fig. 1 will be suilicient for a complete understanding of theinvention.

In the form shown, the two units are mounted in a cylindrical housing 5which may be secured to or formed integral with a transverselyprojecting portion 6 adapted to be secured to a supporting bracket 'I inany suitable manner as by means of screws 8. The two units are supportedwithin the cylindrical housing 5 preferably by means of a commonsupporting web 9 or a transverse wall formed integrally with and on theinterior of said V' housing and having a coaxial hub, although any unitsas will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Each unitcomprises, as shown, armatures I0 and II having interposed therebetweenand preferably concentric therewith a common field I2, said armatures,in the present instance, 5 being rotatable while the field remainsstationary so that they thus constitute rotors and a stator,respectively. If Idesired, however, either one or both of the armaturescould be stationary and the eld rotatable. 10 The armature I is of thephysical form usually employed in direct current dynamo electricmachines but has three windings lila (Fig. 3) connected together indelta arrangement for alternating current operation and is provided with15 a shaft I3 on which are wound the coils Illa and which is journaledat both ends in suitable bearings such as ball-bearings I4and I5 carriedby a hub I6 and a plate I l, respectively. The hub I6 is preferablyformed integrally with a bowl- 20 shaped member I 8 which constitutesthe supporting structure of the stationary field I2 and is, thereforefixed to the web 9 in any suitable manner as bylmeans of a pin I9 whichpasses through a tubular extension 29 of the bowl-shaped mem- 25 ber I8,said tubular extension 28 constituting a shaft and being supported inand extending through a hub ZI formed integrally with the web 9 so thata similar structure may be provided at the other end of the extension toconstitute the 30 other unit shown at the right of Fig. 1. The plate IIis made stationary and, therefore, secured to an annular member 22, asby means of screws 23, which forms part of the bowl-shaped casting I8,the latter also having an internal annular 35 flange 24 which carries anannular laminated core 25 of the eld I2, and Wound around said core is afield winding 26.

Suitable means are provided for supplying current to the armature 'I0and in the form shown 40 -comprise a set of stationary -brushes 21 whichI cooperates with a'set of collector rings 28 mounted on and rotatablewith the shaft I3 of said armature. The brushes 21 are mounted on abracket 29 carried by the fixed casting I8. The 45 armature I0, in thepresentembodiment, is the receiving element of the signaling unit and isadapted to be actuated when current flows through the windings thereofdue to a disturbance in the flux relation between another arma- 50 tureand eld located at the remoterstation.

The armature II is constituted by a delta winding 38 wound on an annularlaminated core 3| carried in a rotatable housing 32 composed of twosections 33 and 34 secured together in any 55 suitable manner as bymeans of screws 35. 'I'he section 34 of the rotatable housing 32, isjournaled on the tubular extension 20 of the xed casting I8 in anysuitable manner as, for example, by means of a bushing 36 threadedwithin a hub 31 60 formed integral with the section 34 which is of acontour similar to the bowl-shaped stationary member I8. The forward endof the section 33 terminates in an enlarged portion 38 within which theindicating elements are adapted to be viewed 65 through a cover-glass 39provided at the open end of the portion 38 and held in position thereinas by means of a ange 40 and a clamping ring 4I. An auxiliary housing 42adapted to project within the section 33 is secured to the latter as 70by means of screws 43 and within which are carried internal collectorrings 44 cooperating with brushes 45 tosupply current to the winding 30of the armature II, said brushes being mounted 'on a bracket 4B alsocarried by or forming part of 15 the stationary member I8. The auxiliaryhousing 42 has formed integral therewith a hub 41 which together withthe annular member 22 constitutes a journal for the other end of therotatable casing 32.

The casing 32 and, hence, its enlarged portion 38 is adapted to berotated about the iixed casing I8 by means of an operating handle 48secured to or formed integral with the enlarged portion 38 therebycausing rotation of the armature II with respect to the stationary iieldI2 and disturbing the ux relation therebetween to cause a signal to betransmitted to the remote station by causing current to iiow in anarmature similar to the armature I8 located at said remote station. Onthe enlarged portion 38 there is also provided a suitable rearwardlyextending fork 49 adapted to engage and restrain an arm 50 pivoted tohandle 48 as indicated at 5I, the arm 58 being in turn adapted to berestrained by frictional engagement with an annular disc 52 secured to aflange 53 on the housing 5 by screws 54, thereby providing a frictionbrake between the rotatable housing 32 and the stationary housing 5. Thearm 58 is normally in engagement with the annular disc 52 untildisengaged by moving the lever 55 against the compression of a spring 58seated within the handle member 48 when the latter is grasped foroperation. If desired, the annular disc 52 may be provided withperipheral notches into which the arm 58 may be forced by the spring 56when the handle 48 is released.

Means are now provided whereby, upon the transmission oi a signal to aremote station by the rotation of the housing 32 through the medium ofthe handle 48 and/or upon the reception of signals from said remotestation by the actuation of the rotor I8, such signals may be'indicatedand, in the form shown, compriseA an index member 51 secured to orformed integral with and on the interior of the enlarged portion 38, anda second index member 58 mounted on the outer end of the shaft I3 of thearmature I8, said index members 51 and 58 cooperating with a xed dial 59having suitable reference characters thereon. The dial is heldstationary by mounting the same on the fixed plate I1 in any suitablemanner as by means of rivets or screws 68 adapted to engage with bosses6I provided on said fixed plate I1.

It will be seen from the foregoing that if two devices of the characterof which one is shown in section in Fig. 1 are electrically connectedtogether, as indicated in the circuit diagram of Fig. 3, with theirstationary ilelds in parallel with a suitable source of alternatingcurrent through a supply switch 82, and the two sets of brushes 21 and45 of the rotors I8 and II connected to corresponding sets of brushes ofthe other rotors, the angular movements of the rotor II at thetransmitting end will cause a corresponding equal angular movement of arotor I8' at the receiving end and conversely the rotor I8 will becaused to rotate when the rotor II' at the other end is actuated. If therotor I I at the transmitting end is rotated at a constant speed, theassociated rotor I8' at the receiving end will rotate at the same speedbut will lag rotor I I by such an angle that the torque developed willbe sufficient to overcome any frictional and wind losses. As soon asrotor II is deceierated and brought to rest the connected rotor I8 willdecelerate at the same rate and come to rest in synchronism therewith.It will also be apparent, as pointed out in the above referred tocopending application, that the rotor i8 may be made to constitute thetransmitting rotor and the rotor II as the receiving rowr if so desired,but for the purpose of the present invention the arrangement ispreferably such, as

shown in Fig. 1, that the outer rotor be employed 5 as the transmittingrotor in order to attain the objects desired, namely, avoiding thenecessity of puncturing the cover-glass 39 for the purpose of connectingan operating handle to the rotor I8.

The unit shown in elevation at the right of w Fig. 1 is, as hereinbeforestated, identical with the unit shown at the left in section and iselectrically connected to a similar unit located at the remote stationwith which it is desired to exchange signals, but enclosing andsupporting 15 the twoI units within a common stationary casing, such asthe casing 5, aiords ready operation of the unit from either sidethereof and also provides indications from two sides of the unit, thesefeatures being possible only by virtue ot the fact 20 that two units canbe combined into a unitary structure because the operating handle 48forms part of the rotatable casing instead of being provided at the rearof each unit as has been done heretofore. 25

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown another embodiment of theinvention where the same is applied to a pair of signalling units of thetype in which each unit is provided with a stationary indicating unithaving a movable 30 pointer and with two relatively rotatable members,the operation of which is adapted to vary the resistance of anelectrical circuit such, for example, as a Wheatstone bridge to providean indication at a remote station, the indicating 3;, unit in turn beingadapted to be operated by a similar transmitting unit at said remotestation. In the form shown, each unit as illustrated in section at theleft, comprises, as in Fig. 1, a rotatable housing or casing 63journaled within a stationary cylindrical casing 64 carried by asuitable supporting standard and secured to the latter as by means ofscrews 88. The housing 83 has a cylindrical portion 61 which projectswithin the casing 84 and an outer enlarged flared 45 portion 68 tc whichis secured an operating handle 69 for rotating said casing 63 for thepurpose of transmitting a signal. The casing 63 is journaled on a hollowstationary shaft 18 which is keyedto and extends through a hub 1I pro-50 vided on an annular web or wall 12 formed integral with thestationary casing 64, said hollow shaft extending through thecylindrical portion 81 of the casing 63 and having keyed thereto at itsleft end a smaller housing 13 within which 55 is secured a receivingelement 14 as by means of screws 15. A similar pair of housings (notshown) are keyed to the right end of the shaft 18 to form the structureof the second unit within the xed housing 64. The transmitting element60 of the present embodiment comprises a box 18 secured to and rotatablewith the cylindrical portion of the rotatable casing 63. the securingmeans being shown as screws 11. Within the box 16 is an annular member18 having a clrcu- 6r lar cross-section and on which is Wound a suitableresistor 18, said annular member being secured to the hollow shaft 10 inany suitable manner (not shown), the box 16 being, for this purpose, soconstructed that the shaft 18 passes 70 therethrough. Cooperating withthe resistor 18 is a sliding contactor 88 carried by a bracket 8Isecured to the box 18 and by means of a screw 82, said contactor beingin continuous electrical contact with the resistor 19 and adapted, upon75 rotation thereof with the casing 83 due to the fact that the box 16is secured to said casing, to cut in or cut out any desired amount ofthe resistor 79 for the purpose of unbalancing a Wheatstone bridgecircuit, as will appear more fully hereinafter with reference to Fig. 4to actuate a receiving element 14 which is the same as the element 'llibut located at a remote station. The receiving elements 'M and 'id' maybe any suitable type of electric meter adapted to be actuated inresponse to and in accordance with variations in electric current, andis provided with a pointer 83 which cooperates with a iixed dial plate8@ secured to the casing 73 as by screws 85, said dial 86 havingappropriate reference characters thereon for indicating the signalsdesired to be transmitted and/or received. Another index member orpointer 86, similar to the index member 5l shown in Fig. 1, is securedto and rotatable with the casing 63 on the interior of the enlargedflared portion Y68 and arranged to traverse the dial 8d upon rotation ofsaid casing 83. A cover-glass 8l is also provided through which theindex members 83 and 86 and dial 84 may be viewed.

'If two devices of the type shown in Fig. 2 are associated with eachother, as shown in a circuit diagram in Fig. 4, with the resistor 19having its ends connected to two other resistors 88 and 89,respectively, at the points 90 and 9|, and the ends of the resistors 88and 89 connected together at the point 92 and then connecting the points90 and 9| to a suitable source of current to form a Wheatstone bridge,one arm of which is constituted by the resistor 88 and the portion 93 ofthe resistor '19, and the other arm of the bridge being constituted bythe resistor 89 and the portion 96 of the resistor 19, the onedevicewill produce an unbalance of the bridge when the contactor 88 isrotated to cause current to flow in the electric meter 'lll' located atthe receiving end, said meter being connected to the contactor 88 andthe point 92. Similarly when the contactor 80 is operated at the otherend it will produce an unbalance of the associated Wheatstone bridgecircuit to cause current to fio-w through the electric meter 14 locatedat the first end.

There is thus provided a novel signaling device adapted to transmit andreceive signals to and from a remote station and embodying a novelconstruction whereby two such devices may be readily combined into asingle unit operable from either side thereof, and whereby the necessityof any part of the unit having to pass through the cover-glass or platethereof is eliminated. .There is also provided a novel structure wherebya signaling unit embodying the same may be mounted in any location,particularly where space is limited and the unit must necessarily bemounted on a wall or bulkhead, without having to break through any partof the casing to provide means for operating the transmitting elementsthereof.

While the invention is of decided practical merit when applied toelectrical systems of the type described and disclosed herein, it is tobe expressly understood, however, that these systems are merelyillustrative lof any suitable driving or controlling mechanism which maybe used in place of the controlling mechanisms shown in Figs. 1 and 2.Thus, for example, although it is usually desirable for various reasonsto provide electrical or at least electrically controlled mechanisms, ofwhich the present instrumentalities are representative in a. broadsense, it is contem- .that in such cases suitable connections foroperplated that in certain instances mechanical or pneumatic drivingmeans may be substituted therefor. Moreover, the control may be effectedthrough suitable inter-relation of other electrical, mechanical, orelectro-mechanical equivalents.'

Likewise, the construction of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may bevaried within the limits of the broad inventive concept herein disclosedwithout departing from the scope of the invention as intended to bedefined within the appended claims. Thus, for example, indications maybe given by means of electrically actuated index elements or pointersmovable in paths other than the circular paths indicated, it beingunderstood ating said index elements may be substituted for theconnections indicated in Figs. 3 and 4.

It is also to be understood that various other changes andmodifications, which will now appear to those skilled in the art, may bemade in the construction, arrangement and inter-relation of the partsconstituting the invention Without departing from the spirit thereof.Reference will, therefore, be had to the appended claims for a denitionof the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a signaling device for transmitting and receiving signals to andfrom a remote station, the combination of a rotatable casing and fixedsupporting means therefor, a stationary dial 30,

Within said casing and secured to said fixed supporting means, an indexelement secured to and movable with said casing and cooperating withsaid dial, a second index element journaled in said fixed supportingmeans and cooperating with said dial independently of the first index,means for actuating said second index element in response to signalsreceived from the remote s'tation, and means associated with saidrotatable casing and supporting means, respectively, to causetransmission of signals to the remote station in response to rotation ofsaid casing.

2. In a signaling device, the combination of a fixed support including astationary casing secured thereto,` a rotatable casing supported by andjournaled in said stationary casing, means associated with said twocasings for causing transmission of signals to a remote station inresponse to the rotation of the rotatable casing, a rotatable memberjournaled in said fixed support axially of and within said rotatablecasing, means for actuating said member in response to signals receivedfrom the remote station, a fixed dial supported by the stationarycasing, an index member secured to and rotatable with the rotatablecasing and cooperating with said fixed dial to indicate the signalstransmitted by the rotation of the casing, and a second index membersecured to and rotatable with said rotatable member and cooperating withthe same dial to indicate the signals received from the remote station.

3. In a device of the class described, a rotatable casing and fixedsupporting means therefor, a

stationary dial Within said rotatable casing and secured to said fixedsupporting means, an index element secured to and rotatable with saidrotatable casing and cooperating with said dial, and means associatedwith said rotatable casing and said supporting means, respectively, tocause transmission ofy signals in response to rotation of said casing.

4. In a device of the class described, a rotatable Acasing and fixedsupporting means therefor,

a stationary dial within said rotatable casing 7 and secured to saidfixed supporting means, an index element carried by and rotatable withsaid rotatable casing and cooperating with said dial, and electricalmeans associated with said rotatable casing and said supporting means,respectively, to cause transmission of signals in response to rotationof said casing.

5. In a device of the class described, a rotatable casing having abearing hub at one end thereof, a fixed supporting means including amember passing through said hub and into said casing in coaxial relationtherewith, a stationary dial secured to said fixed member, an indexelement secured to and rotatable with said casing and cooperatingwithsaid dial, and means associated with said rotatable casing and saidsupporting member, respectively, to cause transmission of signals inresponse to rotation of said casing.

6. In a device of the class described, a rotatable casing having abearing hub at one end thereof, a xed supporting means including a'member passing through said hub and into said casing in coaxialrelation therewith, a stationary dial secured to said .'dxed member, anindex element secured to and rotatable with said casing and cooperatingwith said dial, and electrical means associated with said rotatablecasing and said supporting member, respectively, to cause transmissionof signals in response to rotation of said casing.

7. In a device of the class described, a rotatable casing and fixedsupporting means therefor, a stationary dial within said rotatablecasing and secured to means rigidly connected to said xed supportingmeans, an index element secured to and rotatable with said rotatablecasing, and

electro-magnetic means associated with said rotatable casing and saidfixed supporting means, respectively, to cause transmission of signalsin response to rotation of said casing.

8. In a device of the class described, a rotatable casing having abearing hub at one end thereof, a xed support including a member passingthrough said hub and into said casing in coaxial relation therewith, astationary dial connected to said iixed member, an index element securedto and rotatable with said casing, and electro-magnetic means associatedwith said rotatable casing and said supporting member, respectively, tocause transmission of signals in response to rotation of said casing.

9. In combination, two rotatable casings having a common fixed supporttherefor including a common stationary casing partially enclosing saidrotatable casings and each of said rotatable casings constituting adynamo electric machine having two relatively rotatable armaturesarranged in concentric relation and a fixed eld interposed between saidarmatures also in con- VICTOR E. CARBONARA.

